139 Indian Sailors Trapped, 11 Dead in Middle East Conflict
The Indian government has confirmed a dire situation for its maritime workforce, revealing that 139 Indian sailors are currently trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the 'Sagar Manthan — The Great Oceans Dialogue' in New Delhi on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar disclosed that the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict has already resulted in the deaths of 11 Indian sailors in the West Asia and Persian Gulf regions.
Escalating Attacks in the Persian Gulf
Since the regional conflict began on February 28, 2026, Indian maritime personnel have faced increasing hostility. The government reported that there have been four direct attacks on Indian-flagged vessels. Furthermore, 74 separate incidents have targeted foreign-flagged ships that were carrying Indian crews.
The scale of the crisis is reflected in the following statistics:
- 11 deaths recorded in West Asia and the Persian Gulf.
- 5 deaths recorded in the Black Sea.
- 4,292 Indian sailors have been successfully evacuated from danger zones so far.
Currently, the maritime landscape remains volatile, with two Indian-flagged ships and six vessels bound for India navigating the high-risk waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
Tragic Incidents and Missing Crew
The conflict has claimed specific lives and left others missing. Among the casualties was 26-year-old Suraj Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, who was killed during an attack on the MV Cape Dao near the Musandam coast of Oman on September 23. Additionally, Sumit Kumar Singh from Bihar went missing following an attack on the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia in mid-September.
In another recent incident in the Strait of Hormuz, 11 Indian crew members were injured